Spring Texas Hill Country Ride - Time to Plan!

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:47 am

Okay, Folks!!!

Way I figure it, it's time to start planning a *BIG* Spring Texas Hill Country Ride... Very Happy

The recent Big Bend Ride was tons of fun, and I hope we can get all the smae participants from that, plus a bunch more. If you have never ridden in the Texas Hill Country I can only promise you that you will be in for a real rider's treat! Wonderful, twisty roads... Some tight and highly technical, some with heart-stopping *FAST* sweepers, some great pavement, some more "interesting" in its pavement quality, lots of up and down, and even some water crossings... Spectacular scenery, charming little towns and burgs, some culinary deligts for restaurants, friendly people, and wonderfully surprising little landmarks like the "Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop" and the "Lone Star Motorcycle Museum" (which houses not only one of the finest collections of vintage bikes anywhere in the world, but also great food and a *DYNO* where you can find out just how much HP your bike makes for a mere pittance!).

Towns like Kerrville, Boerne, Fredericksburg, Leakey, Bandera, Utopia, etc. make every stop a pleasure... and there is plenty of cheap gas and friendly folks ot visit with, too. Temps are pleasant as long as we don't wait past the end of April, and there are plenty of creeks and rivers for a quick dip if you want to cool off...

LEO's are few and far between, and relatively sympathetic if you are cordial and respectful, and everyone in the area seems to truly welcome motorcyclists.

Accommodations range from extremely quaint and economical all the way up to the downright ritzy.

Personally, I like to base out of the Kerrville/Hunt/Ingram area, as this affords the most flexibility on routes north, south, east or west on any given day, and it is close to the wonderful and famous "Triple 3's" - 335, 336, and 337, not to mention 55 and 16 - all incredible and challenging roads you will want to do more than once. Fredericksburg is close by with the fascinating roads down around Luckenbach, and, of course, the legendary "Willow City Loop".

But I am open to suggestions and input from any and all who might want to go!

Let's start the ball rolling and get planning! I promise I will do all I can to make it a memorable and entertaining get-together, and I know any and all who participate will, too!

We can start with posts and PM's here, and then spread the word to others who might want to go along that are not regulars of the board via e-mail.

Anybody *UP* for a Spring Texas Hill Country Ride???

Please note that this same message has been posted in the "Group Rides" section and any further discussion about it should be directed there. Please PM me with your e-mail address if you want to be included in the e-mail updates.

Cheers!

Dallara

Post by **Rootin55** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:57 am

Just got back from a 4 day trip there......very nice. Spent 1st night in San Marcos, rode the 335,336,337 loop. Friday night in Fredricksburg and had some nice German food & beverage. Sat night in Austin and visited a place called the yellow Rose (don't ask). Only bad thing that folks in this area will attest too are the deer. We did have a few close calls.

Post by **arkline** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:18 am

The onliest question I have is how this will interdigitate with the Torrey Beakster Bash? I'd like to make an attempt at one or the other (given that Alpine is like mucho more miles to get there) but don't want to go through Grant's Pass in the slush and snow...

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:29 am

Hey, Arkline...

I can understand that the West Coast Beakster Bash is much closer, but is Donna *REALLY* going to let you go off from home on "Mother's Day" weekend?

(If I am not mistaken the West Coast Beakster Bash is on "Mother's Day" weekend - May 12-14, 2006...)

Just wondering...

Cheers!

Dallara

Post by **MooseR1100R** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:43 am

I can't stand it anymore, sign me up. Moose

alkaloid · Post by **alkaloid** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 12:41 pm

My parents live in Kerrville so I can attest to the quantity of great riding in the area. One thing to watch for, LEO's are more than few and far between as the riding traffic grows from word of mouth. The 330's loop is great riding but can be dangerous due to blind corners, small boulders falling from earthen walls next to the road and deer that are unpredictable. 55 is nice between Camp Wood and Rock Springs. Long, speedy sweepers but again LEO's know what's going on. For a really decent meal, there is a restaurant attached to a hotel in Rock Springs that serves up a great chicken fried steak. 1340 close to Hunt has the replica Stone Henge/Easter Island figures and 39 is a nice road that runs right along the Guadalupe for a good while. Anyways, not trying to scare people off but just trying to give a heads up to ride smart. -Mike

Patdown · Post by **Patdown** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 12:49 pm

It's a shame you guys have to make a trip for this. I live at Canyon Lake, work in San Antonio and have to drive my 2002 R bike 60 miles every day through the hill country. It's tough, but someone's got to do it!!

The area Dallara is referring to is great riding. Lots of roadkill, so watch it.

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:22 pm

Yes, Folks...

There's deer and various roadkill about, but where do you think we get each evening's meals from???

Patdown, if you drop me a PM with your e-mail address I can get you in touch with a few buddies in the San Antonio area that are always up for some riding around your area.

Alkaloid mentions LEO's... Sure, there are some out there, just like all over Texas... But IMHO there are fewer than around the interstates, and when I have... shall we say... had to have an "encounter meeting" with one I have found them to be quite reasonable (not one ticket from one so far, and I don't ride slow... Ask the Big Bend group...) as long as you are respectful, courteous, and most of all - *TRUTHFUL*. Don't BS 'em... Don't argue... and have all your license, insurance cards, inspection stickers, etc. up to date and handy. If you treat them nicely they will respond accordingly, and in my experience walk you with a warning ot slow it down and ride safely...

That said, my R-1150-R is rigged with an Escort 8500 radar detector and a *BRIGHT* Marc Parnes "Visual Alert", so often I have had some warning of particularly the DPS's (Texas Department of Public Safety - our state highway patrol) presence. The DPS did have a pretty major crackdown on the "Triple 3's" last year, but they were primarily targeting full-on sport bikes after a spate of pretty grisly accidents...

Deer are definitely a problem, but mostly in the early morning or evening hours. On certain sections cattle can actually be a far worse problem, and on one road in particular... Goats!

But there is nothing quite like one site you can get on 335... Giraffes!

(but not on the road... there is a wild game ranch that has some and they are often feeding close to the road...)

Cheers!

Dallara

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:59 pm

But there is nothing quite like one site you can get on 335... Giraffes!

And Kangaroos at the same place!
If the Aussies ever come up we can make 'em feel right at home.

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:16 pm

So... Rider of Darth... Stud of Hoochie Mama...

You gonna' show this time? $\:D/$

Or are we gonna' hear some more

and see some more $\:D/$ $\:D/$ $\:D/$ ???

I'm gonna' keep

you until we get ya' on one of these rides!

Cheers!

Dallara

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:50 pm

OK Dallara, you silver tongued fox, you! I'm in.
I was always going to be in I just wanted to keep you in suspense...HA!
Has the Hoon Miester signed up yet?
I was ogling the map of the Triple 3's and surrounding areas when you"asked". I haven't been on a Hill Country ride in, um...6 months now, so I will be primed and ready.
Bikes, bad-ass roads, buddies, beer, BS, booze & Bluebonnets...it will be a Helluva ride!
A Friday thru Monday bash would be perfect...Fri & Mon for travel days.
Hunt, Ingram & Triple 3's ride last Spring was the last "road race" for me on "our" Norton. You would have been so proud...

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:34 pm

Darth...

Friday to Monday!!! With Friday and Monday travel days!!!

No, no, no, no, no...

*THURSDAY* as a travel day and Monday as a travel day... *THAT'S* the ticket!

We have discovered Friday's are a great day to do the "Triple 3's" in particular, along with 55... Why? There is a lot less traffic, and the LEO's are literally non-existent.

Besides, we need at least one night for the "Hill Top Cafe" outside Fredericksburg, one night for "Elaine's Table" in Hunt, and another for "Kathy's On The River" in Kerrville...

Of course, dingle and hors' d'oeuvres will be served all nights!!!

We do have to find a place with a "kitty litter" parking lot for Dean's R-1200-ST, though... My new nickname for Dean's bike is "Exxon Valdez"...

Cheers!

Dallara

ofrogg · Post by **ofrogg** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:56 pm

how long will it be until Dallara doesn't actually use words anymore... he just posts a bunch of smilies (sp?) and calls it good?

just playing!

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:08 pm

$\:D/$

Good!

Now I think I'll have a

and a

Dallara

(don't remember ever saying anything I posted was "good" 'til now...

)

Post by **Deans BMW** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 6:50 pm

Dallara, still working on the location, have several suggestions though, like the Casa Bonita Lodges if I can't arrange the old homestead.

darthrider · Post by **darthrider** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 10:13 pm

Yeah, the lodges are better than the hotels...lots of patio action & river watching!

Post by **Deans BMW** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:56 am

The Casa Bonita Lodges just out of Hunt on the South Fork.

http://www.casabonitalodges.com

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Post by **boxermania** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:58 pm

I'm interested....need to know the planned date. I have a couple of events in close proximity.

Superbike Races at Barber Motorsports Park, April 21-23, definite go!!

West Coast Bash, Mother's Day weekend May 12-14 if it doesn't change.

I'm bypassing the Beakster Bash III this year in lieu of attending the other events and meeting some of the other board members.

I might even bring the PC 800 if have one at the time......

dallara · Post by **dallara** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:08 pm

Boxermania...

From all the people's preferences on our Hill Country/Big Bend e-mail list I would to say the consensus is for the ride ot be in April... March would be fine by me, but it seems several have schedule conflicts, not to mention the Spring Break weekends in March can wreak a bit of havoc on both accommodations and on traffic.

May has two problems... That's when it starts getting really hot up there, and also it is one of the rainest months of the year for the Hill Country. March and April are both better from a precipitation standpoint.

I believe you are already on the e-mail list, so drop your concerns on dates to all the guys on the list in one mail, and let's get it bounced off everybody.

Cheers!

Dallara

Post by **Deans BMW** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:51 pm

How about April 20 thru 23 some where west of Hunt, Rock springs or Vanderpool would be excellent. That would leave May for the West Coast Bash, the Roadrunner up here in Arizona and the 49er in Calif.

April and May...lots of good motorcycling on the adjenda....good to go.

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Spring Texas Hill Country Ride - Time to Plan!

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Friday to Monday!!!

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